Monday, April 7, 2014

Though we have enjoyed our time here in Del Rio, it is time for us to move on to another fun and exotic location to explore.

It has been a pleasure writing this blog and sharing our desert adventures with you.

Join me soon at my new blogs; Please Send Sunscreen, where I will document living in The Bahamas with a bunch of pasty redheads, and Man with Spear, where I will highlight the adventures of some man I know.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Going way, way back to summer of 2013,
the big kids went to sleepover summer camp. This was Paige's second
year going and Josh's first.

I was so nervous for The Boy. He was fine about it. Mama Hen not so much.

So what did the rest of us do while the Bigs were at camp?

Phoebe and I chilled out in the state park down the road. Hangin' in the camper. Trailer babes!

We went out to lunch, out for ice cream, and to work off all of that garbage, out for hikes in the mountains. The weather was beautiful and so was my company!

Georgia continued her don't-be-a-chicken training with exposure to wildlife, new smells and sounds, going up and down stairs that move, and a leash.

She was not bothered at all. Except for the wildlife, new smells and sounds, going up and down stairs that move, and the leash.

If Phoebe and I were in the camper, where was Jerry?

Driving to Montana.

Of course. Why wouldn't he drive to Montana.

He drove to Montana from Texas to drop off a friend's boat and pick up our new boat for the Bahamas. Here it is! Ain't she purdy?

Well, it's a boat. She floats and is reliable. So yay!

At the end of the week, we picked the Bigs up from camp and headed home.

I missed these kids so much! (And I miss my blonde hair that got messed up after later dyeing it red for Halloween. But that's another post that's not going to happen.)

And Georgia? What was her favorite part of the trip?

"Please, PLEASE, let me chase those javelina! Just once! I know they have tusks and will impale me like Olaf and I'm a big chicken and wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it but I'm a Great Dane! Bred for hunting wild boar!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Every time we visit with Grandpa, the kids are treated to a magic show. This is no ordinary magic show, this is one done by a professional, a master of slight of hand and mind power. No, really. Grandpa was an eye surgeon. Oh, and he's brilliant.

By some mysterious force, he can make a quarter magically disappear from the table, and using only HIS MIND, send the quarter across the room to a different location.

He's been doing this same trick for years and the kids remain as curious as ever.....

Paige: "I have an IQ of approximately 195.745. Certainly I can deduce the flow of the fifth dimension as dictated by String Theory to precisely circumnavigate the laws of physics to determine the destined arrival coordinate of the Washington State quarter, Denver mint, 2007, once it has been mentally projected across time and space by this dastardly brilliant magician."

Phoebe: "He wants my red hair. He's always trying to steal it. Maybe if I give it to him he'll tell me the secret. But I like my red hair. So, I will just sit here and look impossibly cute. That always works."

Josh: "Um? That's strange. Quarter was there. Now gone. How he do that? Pokemon. Chocolate. Candy? I don't understand....."

When the magic is complete, the quarter is located and the kids remain stumped.

It came from genes, genetics, DNA. A little bit of Viking, a smidgeon of German, a hint of Scottish, and a dollop of mutt.

See? This is Jerry's sister. She has mystery red hair, too, in the exact same shade and texture as my three red heads. Isn't her hair just glorious? I try not to be jealous, but wow. Those are some pretty locks.

So what do I usually answer with when someone asks where the red hair comes from?

Answer: To go for a ride with your aunt (who has red hair, so SHE is where the red hair comes from, people!)

Answer: To cuddle on with your mom (who is sporting awesome Santa socks, by the way).

Answer: To go for a cruise around the farm, saying hello to the trees, bees, horse poop, and name rocks.

Answer: As a consequence of this farm cruise, the dog has now been exercised. Bonus!

Answer: To go for a ride with Dad who is holding on for dear life. (Cousin and Uncle demonstrate this use.)

Answer: To learn how to shift gears, use a thumb throttle, and the difference between rear and front brakes.

Answer: As a stable mount for target practice in case of zombie invasion, apocalypse, or gun control enforcement.

Answer: Enjoying life with family and friends, out in the sun, surrounded by nature and God's creation. (And a good excuse for Jerry to wear this flannel shirt. If the Bahamas thing doesn't pan out, we WILL buy a farm with land and horses and four wheelers, only so Jerry will go full-up cowboy. Hubba hubba hubby!)

Conclusion: Four wheelers are for life, liberty, and the pursuit of booty happiness.